The Mayor’s Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle and the Fleur de Flea Vintage Urban Market will bookend the summer on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, joined by WorldFest on the Belvedere in September. Sprinkled in between are dozens of events, including Louisville Visual Arts’ new Waterfront Adventures art camp for kids in July, the Kentuckiana Pride Festival, the Kentucky Craft Bash (craft beer), several color runs, and a number of charity walks/runs so folks can come out to support their favorite cause.
New to the park this year, jet boat rides on the Scream Machine and Louisville Kayak Company’s daytime and sunset kayak excursions join Wheel Fun’s bike/segway rental, yoga, and rides on the historic Belle of Louisville & Mary M. Miller as regular Waterfront Park attractions.
“If you want a relaxing ride on a historic steamboat, you’ll want to get tickets for a Belle of Louisville cruise,” said WDC President David Karem. “If you want your heart to beat a little faster, try the Scream Machine.”
The summer will also be full of music, with the monthly WFPK Waterfront Wednesdays, July 4th and Forecastle in July, and the new Louisville Funk Fest at the end of August.
The park’s regular hot dog/ice cream vendor, Dogs on the Run, will be supplemented by Waterfront Weekends, a food truck pop-up by the Big Four® Bridge.
Regular park attractions include the Adventure Playground & Waterplay, which has been completely renovated for the first time since it opened in 2003; the Swing Garden (adjacent to the Big Four Lawn) for quiet contemplation; the Lincoln Memorial for a beautiful and poignant glimpse of our community’s history; and the Big Four Bridge for great walks and wonderful views of the Ohio River and downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville.
“Waterfront Park is Louisville’s front yard, the sight that millions of drivers see when they enter our city,” Mayor Fischer said. “It’s part of the reason that our city has become such a popular tourist destination. And I expect these new opportunities for fun will only build on that momentum.”
For a complete list of all events and information on park attractions, check out the Waterfront Park website at www.louisvillewaterfront.
About Louisville Waterfront Park: Louisville Waterfront Park is an 85-acre urban park reconnecting downtown Louisville with the Ohio River. The park has transformed an industrial wasteland into an attractive gateway to the city that attracts nearly 2 million visitors each year. Waterfront Park offers a wide variety of informal and organized activities and plays host to over 120 events each year, including festivals, concerts, fireworks shows, and walks/runs. For more information about Louisville Waterfront Park, visit www.louisvillewaterfront.com.
